Chapter 469: Chapter 433: Risk of Exposure
Luo Dayong and Zhao Yunshu quickly arrived at the northwest side of Bright Moon Mountain. When they reached the foot of the mountain, a patch of ink marks appeared in front of them. Stepping one after the other into it, they were instantly taken to the top of the mountain by Liu Tianyou using his Ghost Realm ability.
From the top of this mountain, one could use binoculars to see a corner of the quarry.
Liu Tianyou, Yu Da, and Luo Danian had already been waiting at the mountaintop. As soon as Zhao Yunshu arrived, Luo Dayong promptly pointed toward the forest on that side of the quarry, explaining the situation.
"Roughly estimated, about three hundred or so stone miners fled into the forest, split into three groups heading in three different directions. Although they aren’t moving in a straight line, their goal is clearly toward Bright Moon Mountain on this side. The soldiers have also split into three teams in pursuit, and if they move quickly, they will reach the riverbank in less than half a day."
Zhao Yunshu held the binoculars, and indeed saw Jinzhou’s soldiers chasing those ragged stone miners through the woods. Once they caught up, they would strike them on the leg with a stick and tie them to a nearby tree.
Unless the resistance was particularly fierce, the soldiers wouldn’t kill the stone miners directly. Instead, they would incapacitate them temporarily before capturing them back, give them simple treatment, and make them continue mining.
During this time, Zhao Yunshu had also been inspecting various places outside Bright Moon Mountain. There were many quarries around, and if those in charge had some conscience, and didn’t skimp on the miners’ provisions, allowing them to rest when needed, the miners could survive, albeit with some hardship.
But such conscientious individuals were few; most quarry managers were quite heartless. They lacked a long-term perspective, fixated only on immediate profits, treating the poor people like livestock.
Liu Tianyou still wore his scholar’s gown, while Yu Da rubbed his increasingly bulging belly, and both wore worried expressions.
Luo Dayong, being straightforward, couldn’t help but speak up, "What’s there to worry about? Mr. Liu can use the Ghost Realm to isolate those people in the forest, so our Bright Moon Mountain won’t be exposed."
Just as he finished speaking, Luo Danian kicked Luo Dayong’s leg, gesturing for him to shut up.
Liu Tianyou sighed, glanced at Zhao Yunshu, and said, "If left unchecked, once these people reach the riverbank and see the farmland water wheels on the other side, they will certainly know this place is inhabited. Also, using the Ghost Realm to isolate them would only inform the soldiers that strong ghosts are haunting here; they would report this to the Evil Suppression Bureau, and once they have time to deal with this, exposure would still be inevitable. These stone miners are innocent people captured from various places; how could we watch them die without helping?"
Yu Da added, "It’s easy to save them, but how can we do so without alarming the soldiers? If the people being chased suddenly all disappear, they’ll certainly scour the forest thoroughly. Even if we kill all the soldiers, those left at the quarry would notice something was amiss, and they would still come to investigate. This issue seems unsolvable!"
After careful thought, Luo Danian cautiously suggested, "What if we find a way to lead the stone miners to flee in another direction?"
Hearing this, Liu Tianyou and Yu Da both turned to look at Luo Danian.
Luo Danian continued to explain, "I’m not truly advocating abandoning them to die, but our Bright Moon Mountain has nearly five thousand residents, not to mention Miss Zhao and her people along with the equipment at the construction site at the foot of the mountain. If revealing Bright Moon Mountain and the base below to save three hundred people leads to exposing all this, it seems... not worth it!"
Liu Tianyou and Yu Da, their brows furrowing deeper, found it difficult to decide and could only look towards Zhao Yunshu, waiting to see what she would decide.
Zhao Yunshu put down the binoculars and said solemnly, "Ever since the Emperor of Da Xuan ordered the construction of the Great Wall here, our exposure was only a matter of time. If not today, then someday in the future. The construction of the base at the foot of the mountain was also to have a retreat once we were exposed."
Everyone nodded, and Luo Dayong tentatively asked, "So, are we going to save people?"
Everyone exchanged looks; in truth, no one could bear to simply watch the stone miners being hunted down or captured by soldiers, forced to work endlessly under conditions that could hardly ensure survival.
The brothers Luo Danian and Luo Dayong knew this feeling all too well, having once chosen to become bandits to escape forced labor.
Yu Da took a breath and said, "I’ll go then."
"Wait."
Zhao Yunshu stopped Yu Da, understanding that Yu Da was the strongest Yin Walker in all of Bright Moon Mountain, capable of single-handedly dealing with all the soldiers chasing the stone miners.
"We must save people, but we need to turn passivity into initiative as well. The base below won’t be completed for at least another month. During this time, gaining more time for Bright Moon Mountain is preferable. If you trust me, why not let our people handle this matter."
Yu Da and Liu Tianyou exchanged a glance. They had initially accepted Zhao Yunshu and the others from the Immortal Country because of Sang Que. However, after more than two months together, Yu Da and Liu Tianyou thoroughly understood, and respected Zhao Yunshu and her people.
The people under Zhao Yunshu were disciplined and obedient. When the inhabitants of Bright Moon Mountain needed assistance, they gave their all, refusing any gratitude or rewards afterward.
Previously, the mountain’s school was built by Liu Tianyou according to the typical Da Xuan style, but after Zhao Yunshu’s arrival, she worked with Liu Tianyou to improve it, bringing with her many teachers alongside Sang Que. Among these teachers were impressive women whose broad knowledge even commanded the respect of Liu Tianyou’s Zhuangyuan Ghost.
These teachers were not as rigid as the mountain’s original scholars, nor did they hold gender biases. Their philosophy was one of equality, treating everyone equally and never underestimating any life.
The lessons were no longer rote repetitions of ancient texts unknown to the children, but separated into subjects taught innovatively and engagingly.
Previously, the children in the mountain were reluctant to attend the school. Now, whenever these new teachers held lessons, the children would rush in to listen. The classrooms were filled with both boys and girls, in a more relaxed atmosphere, and during the day Liu Tianyou would often hear the joyous laughter coming from the school.
The arrival of Zhao Yunshu and her group injected a fresh and vibrant energy into Bright Moon Mountain.
Liu Tianyou immediately saluted, "Then we’ll rely on Miss Zhao."
Zhao Yunshu still felt somewhat uncomfortable with this saluting formality. After spending so much time with Liu Tianyou, she found herself speaking, writing work logs, and even thinking in increasingly literary terms—practically addictive!
"Brother Danyan, please notify Zheng Xuan for me and tell him Action Number 010. He knows what to do. Ride my bike and be quick."
Zhao Yunshu took a set of keys out of her pocket and handed them to Luo Danian. It belonged to her mountain motorcycle, which allowed her quick travel within Bright Moon Mountain, since she wasn’t a Yin Walker and didn’t have Liu Tianyou’s ability to use the Ghost Realm for instant teleportation.
Luo Danian accepted the keys with visible excitement. Everyone had seen the vehicle that could go faster than a horse, yet it was rather scarce. Currently, only Zhao Yunshu and her mobile team possessed it.
Luo Danian got along well with Zheng Xuan and had ridden one of Zheng Xuan’s before, enjoying it immensely.
Seeing this, his brother Luo Dayong also looked envious, quickly saying, "Brother, I’ll go with you!"
Liu Tianyou wished he could stay to see the prowess of these people from the Immortal Country, but alas, he had many uncompleted city affairs to attend to. He could only bid farewell and leave first, entrusting Yu Da to accompany Zhao Yunshu and keep her safe.
The motorcycle roared away, and soon, more roaring sounds approached from afar.
Zheng Xuan, leading two battle groups, arrived at the riverside. Ten people, clad in camouflage uniforms and fully armed with guns, quickly started their mission after a brief exchange with Zhao Yunshu, who had long been waiting at the riverbank.
Under the guidance of Sang Que, Zheng Xuan also became a Yin Walker, able to control a Smoke Ghost, which perfectly suited his penchant for smoking.
However, this time, their mission was to intercept the soldiers chasing the stone miners, for which guns were more apt than Ghost Control.
Yu Da remained at the riverbank, ensuring no Water Ghost dared emerge. With a wave, Zheng Xuan and ten others swiftly crossed the river, disappearing swiftly into the forest on the opposite bank.
